In addition to the assessment gateways that include specific programmatic assessments that students will complete in order to gauge their learning and progress within their programs, each licensure program also includes embedded assessments that are integrated into coursework.

The Assessment of Professional Dispositions (APD)

This dispositional assessment is embedded in every course that students take as a part of their licensure program. The dispositional assessment allows faculty to provide feedback to students on their growth towards the dispositional attributes needed for success as a teacher. Gathering data in all licensure courses allows for multiple data points to inform students' understanding of their dispositional strengths and areas for growth. Additionally, when students enter the field, host teachers are asked to complete the APD in order to provide a field-based perspective on students' emerging dispositions.

Salem State Lesson Plan

In each licensure program, students are introduced to Salem State's lesson plan template. Students work with this template to develop standards-based lessons that engage students in learning new content and skills. Students are formally assessed on their use of the lesson plan template in their methods coursework. This course-embedded assessment allows for faculty to chart students' progress with developing effective lessons and to provide supports when needed.

MA Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP)

In each licensure program, students are introduced to the Massachusetts Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP). Elements of the CAP are introduced across various courses in each licensure pathway so that students are quite familiar with the tool before their student teaching placements. During student teaching, students are formally assessed with the CAP by a program supervisor and by mentor teachers in the field. The CAP assessment is embedded within the practicum/student teaching course. Students must achieve strong ratings on the CAP in order to be endorsed for a license.